Seven Democrats Are Now Vying to Take Down Sen. John Cornyn of Texas. Here's Why.

Seven Democrats have now filed to run against Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in 2020.

That's a lot of enthusiasm for facing off against a lawmaker who scored a 27-point victory over his last opponent — and in a place where a Dem hasn't won a statewide office since 1994.

Even so, the latest of those contenders, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, co-founder of the Workers Defense Project, jumped into the fray early this week, joining former Army helicopter pilot MJ Hegar, state Sen. Royce West, former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell and others.

"People smell the purple blood in the water," explains David Crockett, a Trinity University political science professor. "To the extent that there are serious candidates in the bunch, they've read 2018 as evidence that Democrats can win statewide races in Texas."

Crockett points to the narrow margins by which Sen. Ted Cruz and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, both Republicans, held onto their seats last cycle. Cruz eked out his victory over Democratic rockstar Beto O'Rourke by fewer than three points, while Patrick only scored a four-point win over underfunded underdog Mike Collier.

Democrats are wagering Cornyn will be weighed down by his close association with President Donald Trump. They also know millions of new voters have relocated to the state in recent years, repainting reliably red big-city suburbs a shade of blue.

A recent Emerson College survey of registered voters shows Democratic presidential frontrunners Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders leading Trump by 2 percentage points in Texas — a state that's gone Republican in every presidential election since 1980.

But complicating matters, Cornyn has amassed a $9 million war chest, making him a formidable opponent. After watching Cruz's hard-fought race last year, Cornyn is also filling top-level campaign jobs.

Even so, Democratic candidates are pulling in cash of their own, and the party has made Texas a 2020 priority.

Hegar, who ran a close House race in the Austin suburbs last year, took in over $1 million in the second quarter after launching her bid in late April. And Tzintzún Ramirez's campaign said it raised $200,000 in the 24 hours after announcing her run.

Not to mention, Patrick's razor-thin 2018 victory shows that money doesn't always ensure a clear path to victory — especially when voters sour on an incumbent.

"If there's a severe Trump backlash in Texas, that's clearly going to work against Cornyn," Crockett said.

Stay on top of San Antonio news and views. Sign up for our Weekly Headlines Newsletter.